Can you believe that 2022 is ending? What a whirlwind year it has been! 

As Co-Presidents, we paused to reflect on GOOD’s path this past year as we prepare to pass the torch on to Peggy Jackson, Incoming President, and the 2023 Board. We are truly honored and proud of the work this year’s GOOD Board, committees and Communities of Practices (CoP) have accomplished. We extend our heartfelt ‘THANK YOU!’ for your tireless efforts and continued support of GOOD NETWORK community.

We understand that volunteering time to sit on a Board and working on active committees can be challenging. This year, and the last two years, many of us were stretched thin with competing life-work demands and unprecedented societal changes due to the pandemic. It has also been a time of meaningful change for our GOOD community, which consists of a committed group of professionals that look to this network for networking, support, and development.

As in prior years, we came into 2022 reviewing the GOOD Membership Survey and refining our strategic plan based on feedback regarding the organization, programming, and other offerings.  This has been a continued practice as the diverse perspectives, values, and needs of our members are not only valued, but are what takes GOOD to GREAT!

The 2021 Member Survey Results highlighted the following:

• Members wanted to focus on key programming offering content offered bi-monthly meetings, while the annual best practice review had mixed reviews.

• Members reported mixed reviews on in-person, virtual only, and hybrid meeting formats.

• Member wanted more of a voice regarding the survey results and periodic updates regarding initiative implemented.

• Overall, GOOD is pretty good! Members ranked the organization a Net Promoter Score (NPS) was 77. A NPS rating of 70+ is considered World Class. They expressed feeling welcomed, wanted more input in programming, and having a voice regarding how the survey results were incorporated

You spoke and we listened! 

As such, the Board reviewed what was done in prior years’ strategy sessions, integrated this valuable 2021 membership feedback, and refined our focus with the intent of working on the following items this year:

Programming --  (led by Leon Jabrow, VP of Programming)

Members wanted to focus on key programming offering content offered bi-monthly meetings, while the annual best practice review had mixed reviews.

• Member Survey Feedback: Our diverse and interactive GOOD community wanted to learn best practices, share ideas, and network with other professionals regarding topics such as Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I), the Future of Work, the ‘New Normal’ in OD, large scale organizational change, among others. 

• Action Taken: Leon and the Programming committee broke the mold of the bi-monthly meetings, added networking time for members, a COP Corner, and brought a “mini best practice” into every meeting. Further, they delivered member requested content, best practices, and learning opportunities on the following topics:  

Every time members met, they got the benefit of learning from OD subject matter experts as well as given time for them to discuss their needs, further providing a venue for member feedback and engagement.

• Decision/Next Steps: We look forward to seeing how Leon and his committee brings programming innovation, meeting creativity, and member interactions to the next level in 2023.

Bi-monthly Meeting Format: In-person, virtual and/or hybrid meetings (led by Krystena Sterling)

Members had mixed reviews on in-person, virtual only, and hybrid meeting formats

• Member Survey Feedback: To gain further clarity of members’ level of comfort to remain virtual (due to COVID numbers and vaccination rates), while balancing other members’ desires to reconnect in person, periodic check-ins and updates were provided via bi-monthly meetings, newsletters, and the website.
  

• Action Taken: Various locations that were geographically convenient, with live streaming or remote IT capabilities, and within the feasibility of GOOD’s resources were explored. 

• Decision/Next Steps: After continuous conversations about the different meeting formats, the anticipated low in-person attendance and other logistical considerations, the overwhelming feedback is that the general membership was not ready to go in-person…so we paused. The Board finally decided to remain virtual and look forward to coming back to in person or a hybrid format in 2023.

Member Engagement

Members wanted more of a voice regarding the survey results and periodic updates regarding initiative implemented.

• Member Survey Feedback: Members provide quarterly updates of actions taken based upon the survey.

• Action Taken: The Board explored ways of obtaining member feedback on a continuous basis regarding a variety of avenues to ensure that members were asked intentional questions, the environment was conducive to having robust conversations and refine current process to increase member engagement is different offerings or Board committees. The Top 3 Member Engagement Initiatives were:

As we grow as individuals, a membership, and organization, we must continue to think local and reach global. As of 12/1/2022, GOOD had a total of 176 members, of which 114 are Individual Members, 62 are Corporate Members from 9 Corporate Groups. 

We have a LinkedIn group of 800 members.  While Florida and the US may have once been our first thought geographically, we are now part of an online global community that includes people from all over the world. This offers a unique opportunity as OD professionals to connect, engage, and network with professions from HR, coaching, consulting, L&D,  and other disciplines, while sharing industry trends, best practices, and diverse perspectives. 

Further, to continue to be ranked above a 70+ NPS by our members, we must not only state but live our GOOD DEI statement - “we are committed to listening, learning, and having courageous conversations, inclusive behaviors, and grace as we work together to intentionally create a culture of belonging that nurtures a GOOD community for all.”  We do this by periodically assessing and refining our governance, Board and committee structures as well as other operational policies.

GOOD Governance & Board Structure (led by Kristin Chase, Advisory Board Member)

• Member Feedback: As an OD community of professionals, are we ‘conducting our business’ within current best practices and emerging professional standards?

• Action Taken: To answer that question, a Governance Committee was established to review the existing bylaws and to implement process improvement regarding governance and operations. Kristin and the Committee conducted an evaluation of not only the current bylaws, but also what best practices are incorporate in similar nonprofit organizations. Internal GOOD governing documents, including the organizational chart (board positions and job descriptions, committees, and CoPs), policies, guidelines, other operational documents, and member agreements were analyzed. Further, the ad hoc DE&I Committee was activated to support the integration of best practices related to diversity, equity and inclusion based on our current membership composition, social demographic changes and to create an inclusive environment where individuals can engage with the organization. With this robust assessment, the GOOD bylaws were modernized, and presented to the Board and full Membership for approval. 

• Decision/Next Steps: The updated GOOD Bylaws were approved by the Board and membership voted to adopt on August 15, 2022. Members have access to the Bylaws document on the Governance webpage in the Member Content section. (member login required) 

Needless to say, the 2022 Board was busy! We also made a conscious effort to ‘stick to the basics’ because we were fully aware of the current burn-out that everyone was facing, and we did not want to stretch too much. Krystena, as the past President, was aware of how much the Board pushed the past 2 years, during the pandemic. As such, we tried to stay focused on the initiatives that would have the most meaningful impact for our members, our program offerings and at our core – the welcoming and heartfelt connection with our GOOD community. 

As members, your unique perspectives are appreciated, and your voices are valued. As Co-Presidents working with the Board, we wanted to hear from you and encourage you to not only continue to share but get actively involved. We may not always get it right, but the Board committed to continuously improving to provide the best GOOD experience we can. 

It is the only way we can continue to work together and make strides in making GOOD great! 

In closing, it has been an incredible honor and privilege to lead this board. Krystena has led as President for the last three years and Xaulanda for this last year, with both having other Board positions prior. This Board has worked tirelessly to ensure that through all the internal changes, coupled with the dynamics of the external environment and social dynamics, that we remain focus on our mission - to create a diverse and interactive community that provides continuous learning by sharing ideas, resources and best practices.

Together, we want to thank the board members departing this year, including Kristin Chase, Tara Goodlander, Karen Agrait, Clayton Alves and Dr. Xaulanda Simmonds-Emmanuel for all the hard work and dedication they have given to GOOD. Krystena will remain as an Advisory Board member.

We look forward to 2023, the new board, and hopefully seeing all our members in person for the first time in almost 3 years. Thank you for being a part of this world class network. 

We hope you have a wonderful and safe holiday season.

Krystena and Xaulanda